The Future Leaders Program is nearing the end for the Class of 2009. As we finish out our year we will be doing a series of blog posts looking back at our experiences throughout the program. Today we’re talking with Nate Reed.

“My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.”
-Psalm 73:26

It would be an understatement to say that this year has been amazing. Aside to being one of the most unexpected, incredible, and enjoyable years I’ve ever had, it was probably my most changing and shaping year…thus far anyway. In education, they say that you learn far more your first year in the classroom then you ever did in the four(+) years you have at a university. Last year, that was completely true for me. I found the same thing to be true this year in ministry. You think you know something until you’re completely immersed in it. Like Allan mentioned earlier, it can be incredibly frustrating, but also extremely edifying and humbling, which is exactly what I needed this year. Rather then talk a lot about all the things I learned, I want to speak to the two things that I am most thankful for from the program this year.

First and foremost, my walk with the Lord has changed SIGNIFICANTLY this year. I’ve found a hunger for the Word that I’ve never felt before. My prayer life is less focused on myself and is much more frequent then it’s ever been. I’ve been able to hear God’s voice and feel his leading as a result of praying BIG prayers and I’ve seen Him answer requests in ways I never dreamed He would. Now, none of these things are where they need to be yet, but I’m still growing and I am ecstatic that I have a growing desire to continue to deepen my relationship with THE Creator of the Universe.

Secondly, I’m so thankful for the relationships I’ve formed and developed this year. I’ve learned from some of the most talented people I’ve ever met from all areas of the church, I’ve made friendships that will last into eternity, and I’ve learned some hard lessons from people who have shown genuine care and love for me. For all those things, I am eternally grateful! My only regret is that there were people that I didn’t take time to build deeper and stronger relationships with, including members of our now-graduated class, and now that chance is lost. Keep that in mind for next year kids…

Now that the program is over, I’m honored to have the opportunity to continue to work for Frontline’s Creative Arts department. I’m blessed to be able to serve in a capacity that taps into almost all of my passions AND I LOVE my team. God’s ignited a fire within me to be effective and sold out in order to make his name famous and he has totally provided me with a job where I can potentially do that in a very big way. As the verse says at the beginning of this post, I WILL fail at this…many times. But praise God that he will continually provide me with the strength to continue and has locked my identity in him so that I have all I need for this life, and the next.

“Lord, thank you for allowing me to be here, for providing me with all I need, for placing the amazing individuals in my life who have taught me how to serve you better and have helped draw me closer to you. May the things you taught us this year never leave us, and I ask that we would never stop growing in you. Forgive us for not being completely faithful and thank you for accepting us anyway. We love you Lord; Amen.”